Transformation plasticity and the effect of temperature on the mechanical behaviour of Hawkesbury sandstone at atmospheric pressure

Abstract

Uniaxial Compressive Strength (UCS) testing of Hawkesbury sandstone was carried out at various temperatures between 25 and 950. °C to explore the mechanical response of the sandstone to significant changes in temperature, as expected for enhanced geothermal energy systems, nuclear waste disposal and underground coal gasification. The UCS testing results demonstrate a mechanical dependence on temperature whereby the compressive strength and elastic modulus for the sandstone increases with increasing temperature for temperatures less than c. 500. °C and decreases with increasing temperature for temperatures greater than c. 500. °C. X-ray diffraction analyses performed on material from the fail..